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W-G hosts mock crash

While a mock crash was staged Friday at Waynesfield-Goshen High School prior to prom weekend, the reaction of what it can be like felt real for several students.
The mock crash came with all the effects. Prom goers, who had been drinking, were staged to have a head-on collision with another prom patron who had not been drinking. Cars were cut open so victims could be removed and treated. The collision resulted in one fatality, who was removed from the car and loaded into a hearse.
“We have been doing this for several years,” said Mike Armentrout, the funeral director with Armentrout Funeral Home. “I think it gets through to the kids. We haven’t had an accident of this kind since we have been putting it on.”
Armentrout said he did not know if there had been any drinking and driving accidents prior to the staged crash the last several years, but he knew there had been one at Upper Scioto Valley, where they also perform staged crashes as part of prom week. Armentrout said there had not been a prom night drinking-related crash since the crash has
been showed.
While there were a few jokesters who didn’t seem to take it seriously when the mock crash was showed outside, the staged funeral in the gymnasium seemed to sober up all of the students to what can potentially happen.
Several family members “spoke” during the funeral and several law enforcement personnel spoke after the mock funeral.
“I don’t want to see anyone on my table in the prep room,” Armentrout said to the students. “If you have to, call the funeral home. We will send somebody to pick you up. Don’t get behind the wheel if you are drinking or ride with someone who has been.”
Way-nesfield Police Chief Nathan Motter told the students to simply use common sense.
“The hardest part of this job is telling someone that their child is not coming home,” Motter said. “That is the last thing we want to do.”
Motter reminded students that law enforcement would be patrolling the area to watch for people drinking and driving.
Aug-laize County Sheriff Al Solomon told the students it was all right to have fun, but to remember to be safe.
“You can make this real easy,” Solomon said. “If you have a friend who gets into some booze, don’t let them get behind the wheel of a car. We want you to have a good time but keep everyone safe.”
Solomon noted that several law enforcement officials were aware of talk of a couple of underage parties rumored to be planned and they would be checked out.